Sectional casket with exteriorlymounted tension members



Oct. 6, 1970 J. R. CHERRY 3,531,337

SECTIONAL CASKET WITH EXTERIORLY-MOUNTED TENSION MEMBERS Filed May 20,1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR .26 I Y FI 4 JOHN R. CHERR ATTORNEYS Oct.6, 1970 J. R. CHERRY 3,531,337

SECTIONAL CASKET WITH EXTERIORLY-MOUNTED TENSION MEMBERS Filed May 20,1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN R. CHERRY ATTORNEYS SECTIONAL CASKETWITH EXTERIORLY-MOUNTED TENSION MEMBERS Filed May 20, 1968 3Sheets-Sheet s- FIG. 6

INVENTOR JOHN R. CHERRY ATTORNEYS United States Patent Int. Cl. A61g17/00 US. C]. 2710 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A casket formedfrom prefabricated sheet metal components which are readily assemblytogether to form a rigid and sturdy construction. The side and end wallsare formed from panels having angularly inwardly directed flanges ateach end, inwardly directed flanges at the bottom, and flanges at thetop defining a top rim. Corner fixtures are provided overlying the outersurfaces of the panels, and tension members are connected to thefixtures so as to constrict the panels constantly around the outerperimeter, thereby holding the panels rigidly together. The tensionmembers are arranged so that they also function as handles for carryingthe casket. A bottom panel is supported on the inwardly directed flangesat the bottom of the panels, and reinforcing ribs and bottom members arealso Provided.

Cross-reference to related application This application is acontinuation-in-part of pending application Ser. No. 634,685, filed Apr.28, 1967, now abandoned, for Set-Up Casket with Handle-Bar Ties.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to caskets,and more par ticularly to caskets which can readily be assembled fromprefabricated components.

It is the conventional practice when manufacturing caskets for amanufacturer to fabricate the shell and ship it to an upholsterer whofinishes the casket. From an economic standpoint, it would be desirableto ship the shell in prefabricated components for many reasons. The costof freight from manufacturer to upholsterer is reduced, the storagespace is reduced, and the need for skilled labor in assembly iseliminated.

Summary of the invention The present invention is directed to a casketwhich is designed to require for its assembly a minimum of skills on thepart of those assembling the casket at any desirable location, and whenso formed will provide a sturdy and rigid construction.

According to one form of the present invention, a casket is providedcomprising side and end panels connected together to define arectangular enclosure, each of the panels having an angularly inwardlydirected flange at each of its ends in facing relationship withcorresponding flanges of the adjacent connected panels. A separatefixture is positioned at each corner overlying the outer surfaces of thetwo associated panels forming such corner, and a pair of tension membersare connected to each of said separate fixtures. One of the tensionmembers of each pair extends in parallel relationship with oneassociated panel and extends toward the fixture at the other end of theassociated panel. The other tension member of each pair similarlyextends in parallel relationship with the other associated panel towardthe fixture at the other end of such associated panel. Means areprovided for securing the tension members in place 3,531,837 PatentedOct. 6, 1970 ice under tension so that the tension forces in the tensionmembers constantly act on the fixtures to hold the panels undercompression in the form of the rectangular enclosure. In the preferredform of the invention the tension members are located so that they alsofunction as the handles for lifting the casket.

The means for securing each of the tension members in place is aninterlocking connection wherein the tension members are initiallyinstalled in place by insertion of a pin on the tension member into anenlarged hole in the fixture, and thereafter when all tension membershave been installed in place, the tension members can be shiftedupwardly to a second or locked position in the fixture wherein all suchtension members have been placed in tension, and correspondingly, thepanels have been placed under compression, so that a rigid rectangularstructure is provided. This structure for assembling the components ischaracterized by its simplicity so that no special skills are requiredfor carrying out the assembling operation.

Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the present invention toprovide an improved casket formed from prefabricated parts which canreadily be assembled at any desired location to provide a rigid andsturdy casket. Any combination of tension members and brackets which putthe flanges, or the equivalent of flanges, in compression can be used informing the casket of this invention. It is a further object of thepresent invention to provide a casket in which the conventional handleor carrying bars perform not only their usual function of being handles,but also coact with certain corner fixtures to tie together the side andend panels into a rigid rectangular structure.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts inthe several views.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a top plan view of anassembled casket, embodying one form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a broken fragmentary side elevation showing one end and acentral portion of the casket;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view with portions brokenaway and in section showing details of the corner structure forassembling the casket;

FIG. 6 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of certain of thecomponents forming the corner structure of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a fragment of a corner securingmeans which may be used in assembling the panels;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG. 5, but showing amodified arrangement of tension members and corner fixtures forassembling the casket;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 10-40 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified form of the casketshown in FIG. 1.

Description of the preferred embodiment Before explaining the presentinvention in detail, it it to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since theinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology of terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention shown inFIGS. 1-8 will now be described in greater detail. As there shown, thecasket includes side panels 12 and 14 and end panels 16 and 18 which arearranged to define a rectangular enclosure. Each of these panels issimilarly constructed so as to have angularly inwardly directed flangesat each end, as shown at 20 and 22 in FIG. 5 with respect to panels 12and 16. The panels also have inwardly turned flanges extendinglengthwise along the bottom edges, such as are shown at .24 (MG. 3) and26 (FIG. 6). A bottom panel 28 is positioned on the inturned bottomflanges and is retained thereon in a suitable manner, such as is shownin FIG. 3 with respect to the flange 24. Corner fixtures 30, 32, 34 and36 overlie the outer surfaces of the panels forming the various corners,and tension members 38, 40, 42 and 44 are connected at their oppositeends to the fixtures at each of the corners. As will presently bedescribed, the manner of securing the tension members to theirassociated corner fixtures is such as to place the tension members in astate of tension so that they will continuously act on the fixtures tohold the panels together in a state of compression so as to provide asturdy and rigid structure. The side panels 12 and 14 have mountedintermediate their ends a plurality of fixtures 46 which are notched ontheir undersides as at 48 to provide surfaces in which the associatedtension members and '44 can be seated. Any suitable means may beemployed for securing the fixture 46 to their associated panels, such astabs 49 which may be passed through slots in the panels.

The four corner fixtures 30, 32, 34 and 36 are constructed the same andare interchangeable, and therefore, only corner fixture 36 will bedescribed in detail. Also, only the steps of assembling this fixturewith its two associated panels 12 and 16 will be explained. As can beseen best in FIG. 6, the corner fixture 36 has been formed to have atits upper end two flanges 51 which are bent downwardly at theappropriate time to form two box-shaped channel portions and 52 forreceiving in essentially telescoping fashion the top box channelsections 54 and 56 of panels 12 and 16. Likewise, the lower end ofcorner fixture 36 has been formed with channel portions 50 and 60 forreceiving in telescoping fashion respectively the bottom channelportions 62 and 64 of the panels 12 and 16-. When the components aretelescoped together in this manner, the midportions 66 and 68 will pivotover the outer surfaces of the panels 12 and 16 and can be connectedthereto by the tongues 70 which are adapted to be inserted through slots72 in each of the panels. These slots preferably will be oversized for apurpose to be described.

Thus, as an initial step in assembling the casket 10, the four panels12, 14, 16 and 18 can be arranged to stand in positions to define arectangular enclosure and the corner fixtures can be telescoped endwiseonto the adjacent corners and connected in the manner described above inconnection with the fixture 36.

When assembling the corner fixtures, it is preferred that a gasketmember 74 (FIG. 5), formed of polyethylene, neoprene or similarmaterial, be positioned between the angularly inwardly directed flanges20 and 22, and each of the other corresponding flanges at the othercorners. Then as shown in FIG. 8, a clip 76, preferably formed of springsteel, can be slipped over the flanges 20 and 22. The clip 76 comprisesa U-shaped central member having legs 78 with outwardly directedclamping members 80. A tongue 82, formed in each of the legs 78, springsthrough the perforations 84 formed in the flanges 20 and 22 andpenetrates the gasket material 74 to form a temporary securing meansduring assembly of the corner structure. When this is repeated at allfour corners, the side and end panels are assembled in a preliminarystage and are then ready to be brought into final assembly byapplication of the corner members 30, 32, 34 and 36, and thereafter, thetension members 38, 40, 42 and 44.

The tension members are constructed with a pin 86 extending laterallyfrom each end, and each such pin has a retaining head 88 at its outerend. As shown in FIG. 7, the head 88 of the pin 86 can be insertedinitially into the lower enlarged portion of an aperture 90. When bothpins of all tension members have been inserted in this manner intoapertures in fixtures at opposite ends of the four panels, the tensionmembers can be raised upwardly so that the pins slide over the camsurfaces 92 and then seated in the upper portion of the apertures 90.The dimensions of the tension members and panels are such that whenmoved upwardly in the described manner, the tension members will beplaced in tension, thereby pulling the corner fixtures tightly againstthe ends of the panels, and the latter will be placed in a state ofcompression. Thus, the components will be locked securely together. Aspreviously indicated, the slots 72 for the tabs 70 are enlarged so thatthe tension forces of the tension members are transmitted to the cornerfixtures and the latter can move a limited amount relative to the panelsso that the tension members and corner fixtures and the latter can movea limited amount relative to the panels so that the tension members andcorner fixtures tightly bind the panels together in the shape of therectangular enclosure defined by the upright panels.

It will be recognized that the corner fixtures need not have thespecific shape shown, but the fixtures preferably will include a socketsuch as is shown at 94 in FIG. 6, for example, into which the end of atension member 44 can be seated and in the inner wall of which will belocated the aperture 90. However, if desired, a modified arrangementsuch as is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 may be empolyed. As there shown thecorner fixture 136 has apertures formed therein for receiving the endsof tension members 138 and 144. Similar to the previously describedembodiment, the aperture 190 has a lower enlarged portion, and thetension member 144 must be raised upwardly over the cam surface 192 inorder to lock the member 144 in tension in the upper portion of aperture190.

Also, it is not essential that the tension members extend from onecorner fixture to another corner fixture. As shown in the embodiment ofthe casket 210 shown in FIG. 11, tension members 238, 240 and 244 areoperatively connected in tension to corner fixtures 230 and 236 (whichmay be the same as corner fixtures 30 and 36), and to intermediatefixtures 245 and 246. The latter are constructed with apertures similarto those in corner fixtures 230 and 236 so that members 240 and 244 canbe locked in tension and thereby, corner fixtures 230 and 236 can bepulled by tension members tightly in place against the ends of thepanels forming the corners in much the same manner as was done in theembodiments of the invention previously described.

The bottom panel 28 used with any of the described embodimentspreferably will have stiffening ribs 96 extending its full length. Also,if desired, supplementary bottom panels 98 may be used having transverseribs 100. The panels 98 may be secured in place in any suitable manner,such as by the clips 102. Upright stiffening members 104 (FIG. 3) mayalso be used and they can be suitably secured in place by the clips ortabs 49, used to secure the fixtures 46 in place.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that a casket hasbeen provided which can be prefabricated and shipped economically in anunassembled state in convenient sized packages of minimum weight to anydesired location where the caskets can quickly and easily be assembledto form rigid, relatively lightweight structures. Furthermore, thesecuring means comprises members which are stressed when being locked inplace so as to maintain constantly a holding action on the assembledparts. It is to be understood that while angularly directed flanges areillustrated and are preferred, any suitable means can be employed fortransmitting tension forces to the walls of the casket so as to compressthe end walls against the side walls or vice versa.

What is claimed is:

1. A casket comprising side and end panels arranged in an abuttingrelation to define an enclosure, a plurality of tension members, andmeans for securing said tension members in place on said panels andunder tension so that the tension forces in said tension membersconstantly act to hold the panels together in ompression in the form ofthe enclosure, said means including a plurality of fixtures mounted infixed positions on the exterior surfaces of said panels and connected tosaid tension members, and an interlocking structure for securing eachtension member to a fixture defining a first position for assemblypurposes wherein said tension member is connected initially to thefixture in an untensioned state, and a second position above said firstposition wherein said tension member is locked in tension as an incidentto upward movement of the tension member relative to the fixture so thatthe casket can be carried by lifting the tension members withoutreleasing the tension forces of the tension members.

2. A casket according to claim 1 wherein each of said panels hasinwardly directed flange means at its ends arranged in engagement withcorresponding flange means on the adjacent panels.

3. A casket according to claim 2 wherein each of said fixtures islocated at a corner of enclosure in overlying relation with the twoassociated panels forming said corner, each of said tension membersextending substan tially parallel to one of said panels between a pairof said fixtures.

4. A casket according to claim 3 further including additional fixturesmounted on the side panels between the ends thereof and having notchesopening in a downward direction, some of said tension members beingseated in said notches for transmitting vertical lifting forces to theside panels.

5. A casket according to claim 2, wherein said tension members arespaced from their associated parallel panels for at least a portion oftheir lengths so that the tension members can be used as handles forlifting the casket.

6. A casket according to claim 2, wherein said flange means extendsangularly inwardly and further including clamp means securing togetherengaged flange means.

7. A casket according to claim 1, wherein said panels have inwardlydirected lengthwise flanges on the bottom edges thereof, and a bottompanel overlies said lengthwise flanges and is supported thereby.

8. A casket according to claim 7, wherein said bottom panel haslongitudinal stiffening ribs, and further including at least onestiffening member extending transversely of said bottom panel andsecured to opposite side panels.

9. A casket comprising side and end panels arranged in abutting relationto define an enclosure, a plurality of tension members, and means forsecuring said tension members in place on said panels and under tensionso that the tension forces in said tension members constantly act tohold the panels together in compression in the form of the enclosure,said means including a plurality of fixtures mounted in fixed positionson the exterior surfaces of said panels and connected to said tensionmembers, some of said fixtures being mounted on the side panels betweenthe ends thereof and connected to the ends of some of said tensionmembers.

10. A casket comprising side and end panels arranged in abuttingrelation to define an enclosure, each of said panels having inwardlydirected flanges at its ends in engagement with corresponding flanges onthe adjacent panels, a plurality of tension members, and means forsecuring said tension members in place on said panels and under tensionso that the tension forces in said tension members constantly act tohold the panels together in compression in the form of the enclosure,said means including a plurality of fixtures mounted in fixed positionson said panels and connected to said tension members, each of saidfixtures being located at a corner of the enclosure in overlyingrelation with the two associated panels forming said corner, each ofsaid tension members extending substantially parallel to an associatedone of said panels between a pair of fixtures and being spaced from suchassociated parallel panel for at least a portion of its length so thatthe tension members can be used as handles for lifting the casket, aninterlocking structure between the member and the fixture defining afirst position for assembly purposes wherein said tension member isconnected initially to the fixture in an untensioned state, and a secondposition above said first position wherein said tension member is lockedin tension as an incident to upward movement of the tension memberrelative to the fixture so that the casket can be carried by lifting thetension members Without releasing the tension forces of the tensionmembers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 385,707 7/1888 Gould et a1 27-10623,273 4/ 1899 Brown 27--6 X 776,242 11/1904 Harris 21766 X 2,106,6951/1938 Larson 27l0 2,830,354 4/1958 Slaughter 2710 X RICHARD C. PINKHAM,Primary Examiner T. BROWN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 27-6

